The State of Qatar strongly condemns Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s illegal entry into Syrian territory and transgression of international borders as a violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and its territorial integrity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to move swiftly to compel the Israeli occupation to adhere to international legitimacy resolutions, particularly the ceasefire agreement signed in 1974, and to end its repeated aggression on Syrian territories, to prevent escalation and tension in the region.
The Ministry renews the State of Qatar’s full support for the sovereignty and independence of Syria and the safety of its land. The Ministry also stresses the State of Qatar’s support for the Syrian people in establishing their security, stability, and prosperity.
Thank you very much, Your Excellency Brother Badr Abdelatty.
First, I would like to extend my thanks to you for your generous hospitality and warm reception, and to thank Their Excellencies the ministers for what they have provided and contributed to our meetings today—the meeting of the bilateral committee.
Of course, as Your Excellency mentioned, Qatar-Egypt relations are fraternal relations with a long history, depth, and strong foundations. We are always seeking to fulfill the aspirations of our two leaderships and our two brotherly peoples. God willing, with every meeting of the Qatari-Egyptian bilateral committee, we see progress and move into another phase of developing these relations.
We were honored this morning to meet with His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. I believe Brother Badr referred to the key issues discussed during the meeting, but the meeting was held in a fraternal atmosphere, and there were in-depth discussions regarding the security and stability of the region, particularly the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in occupied Palestine, developments in the Iranian-American war, and the status of navigation and security in the Gulf.
We also discussed during our meeting with His Excellency the importance of working bilaterally and collectively with our brothers in the region to enhance security and stability and consolidate peace in the region, particularly in light of the sensitive circumstances we are currently experiencing. His Excellency the President also affirmed his support for working together to identify alternatives and solutions for supply chains, as His Excellency mentioned, whether through shipping lines or in various other areas.
I was also honored to meet with His Excellency Brother Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt. We discussed the most important joint projects between the State of Qatar and the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, and we were very pleased to witness the launch of the Alam Al-Roum project. God willing, this will also be an addition to the projects being undertaken by Qatari Diar and Qatari investments in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt.
We witnessed the signing of four agreements in the areas of customs cooperation and regulatory work, in addition to cooperation in the fields of education and health, as well as the establishment of His Highness the Amir Hospital in Sohag Governorate. We look forward to this also constituting a qualitative leap for the healthcare sector for our brothers in the governorate. We also look forward to exploring future opportunities, God willing, in various fields, whether in the industrial sector, particularly in the pharmaceutical industries.
Of course. Given the circumstances the region is going through, I discussed several regional issues with my brother Badr today, foremost among them the situation in the Gaza Strip and, primarily, in the occupied Palestinian territories. Of course, we are now at a pivotal stage following the Palestinian factions’ announcement that they had accepted the peace plan and were prepared to move forward with the arrangements related to the collection of weapons. The ball is now in the Israeli side’s court.
To be honest, there have been significant efforts, and the partnership and joint work we undertook with our brothers in Egypt and Türkiye to reach this stage were intensive efforts that demanded a great deal from us in order to achieve this breakthrough. We had thought that there would at least be a positive response from the Israeli side to implement commitments that, even from the first phase, it has yet to fulfill. However, as we have come to expect, instead of responding positively to these developments, it has continued its violations to this day, targeting civilians and escalating settlement activities, in addition to continuing its unlimited attacks, which take place without deterrence, whether in Lebanon or in Syria.
Today, there is a key factor which is the Israeli actions that is, unfortunately, contributing to destabilizing the region. The region continues to extend its hand in peace and to seek stability in the region, but unfortunately, day after day, we see these extended hands being rejected.
We also discussed other issues in the region, foremost among them the crisis in Sudan. We also reaffirmed our support for political solutions in Libya, and clearly affirmed our support for the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, Libya, and all Arab territories.
As you know, the region is experiencing difficult circumstances, particularly since the beginning of the U.S.-Iran war, which, unfortunately, has had very harmful repercussions for the entire region, not only for the Gulf region. I discussed with my brother Badr the efforts that the State of Qatar is undertaking and continuously pursuing through its mediation, in partnership with Pakistan, amid the stalemate we are witnessing and the current situation, which has unfortunately obstructed many matters for us.
We affirmed the necessity and importance of ensuring the freedom, security, and safety of navigation, whether in the Strait of Hormuz or the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. We call for a return to the situation that existed before the war. International maritime traffic must not be held hostage or used as a tool for political blackmail by any party, and we condemn anyone who obstructs such movement.
The State of Qatar will continue its efforts with our brothers, whether in the Gulf states, the Arab Republic of Egypt, or elsewhere in the region, to support diplomatic solutions. We hope to reach solutions between the two sides soon, return to the memorandum of understanding, and restore diplomacy instead of, unfortunately, resorting to a language of escalation and political blackmail.
We reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination and consultation between our two countries and between our respective foreign ministries. God willing, we look forward to hosting you in Doha next year for the eighth session of the High Committee. I thank you for your hospitality and for everything you have done for us today.
Journalist’s Question:
Thank you for the opportunity.
My question to His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar: In light of Israel’s official and declared rejection of moving forward with the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, are there other avenues that can be pursued jointly, rather than relying on the U.S. role? And how does His Excellency also view the recent Israeli escalations, whether through increased violations in the West Bank, the continued occupation of areas in southern Lebanon, or the recent attacks on Syrian territory?
Thank you very much.
Regarding Israel’s obligations to implement what is required of it, whether the remaining commitments under the first phase or the second phase of the peace plan, we are relying primarily on the United States to exert pressure on Israel to fulfill its obligations. However, as mediating countries and as fellow Arab countries, we also care about what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We will therefore also undertake international diplomatic efforts to create international pressure on Israel to fulfill its obligations.
I believe that today we are witnessing this behavior as an ongoing and, unfortunately, systematic pattern. From the Israeli side, whenever the other party seeks to fulfill its obligations, Israel does the opposite and acts in contradiction to them. We say that the continuation of such actions will yield nothing but negative consequences for the Strip, for Israel, and for the region as a whole. Therefore, we must avoid such actions. We hope that the U.S. side will fulfill its role. Just as there was an Egyptian-Qatari-Turkish role in securing the Palestinian factions’ agreement to this plan, there is also a role for the United States, European countries, and the international community to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations.
In addition, regarding the escalation and the opening of fronts, whether in Lebanon and the violations occurring there on a daily basis or in Syria, the Arab side met recently in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where we reaffirmed the importance of collective action to put an end to these Israeli violations, particularly those at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the violations in the West Bank.
God willing, diplomatic efforts and contacts will continue in this direction. We must also look at the situation today in general: What is the overall security situation in the region? The region is highly volatile. If this issue is not addressed jointly by the European countries, the United States, and the countries of the region, this escalation will have repercussions for all the countries of the region. We hope that everyone will shoulder their responsibilities, act responsibly, and put an end to these violations, which bring nothing to the region except instability.
Journalist’s Question:
My question is for His Excellency the Qatari Prime Minister: In light of the tensions currently affecting maritime navigation, how is Qatar responding to Iran’s conduct in the Strait of Hormuz?
As I mentioned at the outset, Qatar’s efforts at the moment are focused on mediation between Iran and the United States. There are also efforts between Iran and the Sultanate of Oman to reach an agreement and find an interim solution to the current situation. However, we must also not forget that freedom of navigation must be guaranteed without requiring any efforts by any state, and that these maritime passages must not be held hostage to any form of political blackmail.
The State of Qatar is working in consultation with our brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council and in the region to find other diplomatic avenues with the Iranian side to restore maritime navigation to its normal course. We hope that this will, at the very least, be a positive step toward fully defusing the crisis. We look forward to the Iranian side shouldering its responsibilities and responding to the region, as well as taking into consideration the damage it has caused to us as countries in the region as a result of this closure.
The State of Qatar welcomes the United States’ decision to remove the Syrian Arab Republic from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the move as a positive development that would support efforts to promote stability in Syria and the wider region and advance the political settlement process in accordance with international resolutions, in a manner that serves the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people.
The Ministry reaffirms Qatar’s steadfast position in support of Syria’s unity, sovereignty and independence, and reiterated its solidarity with the Syrian people in their efforts to achieve security, stability and prosperity.
HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi has inaugurated the “Sard” platform, meant for monitoring news and events and all that is published on social media platforms in a variety of languages.
The move helps strengthen the monitoring and unpacking of developments and back the work of the ministry and its staffers with relevant information and data.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Hamar, alongside a lineup of directors of departments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The inauguration is part of the ministry’s plan to leverage AI-powered technologies in its daily work, whether at its departments or diplomatic missions abroad.
HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has received a written message from HE President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, pertaining to bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them. The message was handed to HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, during his meeting on Monday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, who is currently visiting the country.
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with HE State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany Jens Plotner, who is currently visiting the country.
During the meeting, the latest regional developments were reviewed, as well as the diplomatic efforts made to reduce escalation, contain tensions, and enhance security and stability in the region, and the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of common interest.
The State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack targeting a bus belonging to the Internal Security Forces in the countryside of Damascus in the Arab Republic of Syria, which resulted in the injury of several security personnel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs renews the State of Qatar’s firm position of rejecting violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of the motives, stressing its complete solidarity with the Syrian government in all measures it would take to maintain security and stability.
The Ministry expresses the State of Qatar’s wishes for a swift recovery for the injured.
The following statement was released by the representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the representatives of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement, as well as the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), Switzerland, and the African Union Commission, on the meetings held August 17 to August 21 in Switzerland, on the implementation of the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
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From August 17 to August 21, 2026, representatives from the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and representatives from the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23), along with the State of Qatar, United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), the African Union Commission, and Switzerland, convened in Switzerland to assess progress made and challenges encountered to date in the framework of the Doha Process. They also discussed the path forward for the implementation of existing obligations and commitments and the negotiation of remaining protocols under the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of the DRC and AFC/M23, signed in Doha on November 15, 2025.
The Parties welcomed continued progress on the operationalization of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), including the establishment of its Secretariat, and the EJVM+ reconnaissance mission, with the logistical support of MONUSCO, conducted on August 20 in advance of the first EJVM+ ceasefire verification mission, scheduled for August 24 in Minembwe. The Parties agreed on the importance of a standardized method for reporting allegations of ceasefire violations.
The Parties agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementation of obligations and commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement.
Following this evaluation, the Parties developed a roadmap setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha Framework Agreement and committed to flexibility and creativity within the existing structure provided by the Framework Agreement. The Parties agreed that the order of negotiation of the protocols does not dictate the order of implementation of the protocols. They reaffirmed their commitment to pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution through the implementation of the Framework Agreement.
The Parties shared recommendations with the facilitation regarding the path forward for constructive negotiations and to promote implementation of commitments undertaken by both Parties.
The representatives of the Government of the DRC and the representatives of the AFC/M23 expressed their gratitude to the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo as the AU Mediator, Switzerland, and the AU Commission for their steadfast support in advancing peace and stability in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region.
The State of Qatar strongly condemns and denounces the Israeli drone attack on a civilian vehicle in the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside of the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic, which caused civilian injuries. It considers this an unacceptable assault and a violation of Syria’s sovereignty, as well as a threat to its security and safety.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasises that Israel’s continued violations of the sovereignty of the countries of the region constitute a grave approach, an unacceptable escalation, and a disregard for the provisions of international law.
The Ministry stresses the importance of the international community upholding its responsibilities in putting an end to these abuses and ensuring their non-recurrence, warning that the lack of accountability encourages further violations and imperils security and stability in the region.
In addition, the Ministry reiterates the State of Qatar’s ironclad position in standing by the Syrian Arab Republic, confirming its solidarity with the Syrian government in all actions taken to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The Foreign Ministers of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, unequivocally condemn Israel’s continued illegal settlement policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and categorically reject the “E1” settlement plan and related settlement activities east of occupied East Jerusalem.
They further reiterate their condemnation of the violations and acts of violence perpetrated by settlers, with the support of the Israeli occupying authorities, against the Palestinian people and their property. They stress that such acts in no way diminish the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and constitute violations of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, while posing a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
The Ministers warned that the “E1” settlement plan constitutes a dangerous escalation that further advances settlement expansion and annexation and undermines the geographical contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly between the West Bank and East Jerusalem, thereby threatening the viability and realization of an independent, contiguous Palestinian State based on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. Such actions constitute a direct challenge to international efforts aimed at achieving peace, foremost among them President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, including its unequivocal rejection of annexation and forced displacement, and the mechanisms envisaged for its implementation, including through the Board of Peace, as well as President Trump’s firm commitment to not allow annexation of the West Bank, with a view to achieving stability and bringing the conflict to an end.
The Ministers reaffirm that the two- State solution, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, remains the only viable path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. They warn that actions aimed at undermining this solution risk further escalating tensions, threatening regional and international peace and security, and jeopardizing prospects for lasting peace and stability in the region.
In this context, the Ministers support all efforts aimed at ensuring accountability, including through appropriate international measures and sanctions against entities and individuals responsible for illegal settlement activities, including the “E1” settlement plan, as well as those supporting, facilitating or implementing policies of settlement expansion and annexation. They further call for an end to any support or financing that contributes to the establishment, expansion or entrenchment of illegal settlements. They stress that the lack of accountability contributes to the continuation of violations and further undermines prospects for a just and comprehensive peace.
The Ministers call for immediate action to halt the “E1” settlement plan, rescind all measures taken in connection with it, and cease all settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They further call upon the United Nations Security Council, all States and relevant international actors to uphold their responsibilities under international law and take urgent and effective measures to halt illegal settlement expansion, and to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people, safeguard their inalienable rights, including their right to self- determination, and realize their independent State, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
